When it comes to praising the houses of worship in the community, the top-place winner of Fredericksburg Parent & Family magazine’s Family Favorites 2022 went to Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church. With more than 17,000 parishioners, members serve the church and community through education, liturgy, outreach and parish life.

St. Mary’s welcomes every person, from long-time members and new families to individuals who just recently returned to the church. The long and rich history of the church dates back to its founding in 1858 when it created “The Fredericksburg Mission,” which served about 20 families. It currently helps more than 4,200 families.

St. Mary’s offers religious education programs for adults, teens and children. Holy Cross Academy is the parish elementary and middle school in south Stafford, where students grow spiritually, academically, physically and emotionally. The church’s preschool is in the St. Mary Activity Center next to the church and is geared to children three and four years old. The little ones are nurtured spiritually and academically by a stellar team of teachers. As a family formed by faith, the church has many ways for people to get involved, which is one way members feel more connected. St. Mary’s has over 80 active ministries created to draw members closer to the Lord through service, worship and community. Even though the parish is a large one, and individuals may feel lost, the church encourages them to jump right in and get connected. In no time, it will feel like a second home.

For information on how to get involved or what ministries need volunteers, there’s a ministry catalogue. People are encouraged check out the “Get Involved” tab on the website at https://stmaryfred.org/get-involved/ or contact the Stewardship Committee at [email protected] if they have questions.

As a testament to the good work of the parish, St. Mary’s rose to the challenge during the pandemic in many ways, such as hosting record-breaking food drives, providing distance learning for school and religious education and streaming masses and devotions. St. Mary’s is located at 1009 Stafford Avenue in Fredericksburg. For more information, call 540-373-6491 or visit the website at stmaryfred.org.